I come from a strong business background, first starting my career in strategic sales, then studied for an MBA at the University of Virginia in the US, worked in global project management for Danaher and then took my first position at Schneider Electric as a Director of Strategy and Business Development. My particular focus was leading strategic growth and breakthrough initiatives which involved cross-business unit programmes.

Before moving to Ireland, I was the VP of the Power Solutions Division in the US, which covers a wide range of technologies including lighting panels, power metering, lighting controls and power management equipment. I have now been at Schneider Electric for more than seven years in total, working across multiple business units.

Does it seem like a logical background to what you do now?

My first job after graduating was in sales, at the building management systems company TAC. It became the first step in my career that would lead me to become the first woman to run the Irish division of Schneider Electric. My career was built from sales, an invaluable experience, then transitioned into multiple commercial roles including product management and strategy for Schneider’s North American business unit.

Later I moved into general management roles where I was able to run both commercial and the operations side of a business unit. All the roles I’ve had focus first and foremost on customer, so, yes, a fairly logical path to where I am now!

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

I was appointed as the Country President of Ireland in April of 2019. In this role, I am responsible for growing & delivering Schneider Electric’s energy efficiency and sustainability products, services and software to the Irish market, targeting a broad range of segments including data centre’s, residential, healthcare, life science and utilities and renewables. Growing the business in Ireland, is a priority market for us due to the booming data centre market and high quality of STEM skills and expertise in the region.

Why did you get involved with Schneider Electric in Ireland?

Ireland is the hub of the European headquarters of large technology companies, so a lot of the buying decisions are made in Ireland and they influence the rest of Europe. A huge part of Schneider’s Irish business revolves around data centres, and Ireland consistently is positioned as a concentrated hotspot for remote storage, processing and distribution of large amounts of information. However, due to their large demand for power data centres do pose climate change challenges – I am keen to help our customers find a way to grow their businesses in a sustainable and energy-efficient way.

Schneider Electric recently announced that it will be carbon neutral by 2025, and Ireland needs to play its part. Since coming to Ireland ten months ago there has been significant growth and it’s a great place to be right now, but clearly the energy landscape transformation in the long run needs to be accelerated.

Why do you think it is such a powerful idea for more women to take leadership positions?

Diversity in Schneider Electric is considered a fundamental element of the business. Before taking up the role of country president of Schneider Electric Ireland, I was the vice-president of the industrial giant’s power solutions division in the US. Here, 63 per cent of my leadership team were women, and this diversity in gender, race and experience gave my team the type of fresh perspectives that helped drive growth.

How can people find out more about you personally & your work?

Definitely follow me on LinkedIn for the latest updates about what I’m up to!

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About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.